Following the upheaval faced by schools over the past 18 months and ongoing uncertainty, Dundee City Council have agreed a pioneering partnership with Tree of Knowledge; to provide mental health and wellbeing support to pupils and staff across all schools in the Dundee authority area.
From this week, all primary and secondary schools in Dundee will have access to Treehouse; a groundbreaking online learning platform. For use in classrooms or at home, the 100+ age-specific modules for pupils and staff address challenges exacerbated through the pandemic including stress, anxiety and low confidence, through interactive videos and activities, to support and develop positive mental health.
Created by the team of motivation experts at Tree of Knowledge who have recently received prestigious accreditation from the GTCS (General Teaching Council for Scotland); Treehouse is a fun, engaging and thought-provoking tool, in line with the Curriculum for Excellence: Health & Wellbeing Experiences & Outcomes.
The ongoing mental health challenges faced by students and staff are a significant concern, especially in light of the disruptions caused by the pandemic. While programs like Treehouse offer valuable resources to support mental well-being in schools, it’s also essential to acknowledge that mental health care goes beyond the classroom.
For individuals struggling with stress, anxiety, or emotional difficulties, self-assessment from Buoy Health can provide valuable insights into their symptoms. These online resources offer personalized support and can help individuals understand what might be affecting their mental health, allowing them to take proactive steps toward recovery.
Mental health professionals provide a level of care that goes beyond self-assessment, offering tailored treatment plans, therapy, and medication management when necessary. The importance of access to trained psychiatrists and therapists cannot be overstated, especially as stress, anxiety, and depression continue to affect individuals of all ages. Seeking professional support allows for a structured approach to mental wellness, helping individuals navigate their challenges with expert guidance.
For those in the field of psychiatry, how to start a psychiatry practice is an important consideration, as private practices offer a more personalized approach to patient care. Establishing a practice involves more than just clinical expertise; it requires a solid understanding of business operations, patient management, and ethical considerations. With growing awareness surrounding mental health, there is a significant demand for accessible, quality psychiatric care.
Starting a practice allows professionals to create a supportive environment tailored to their treatment philosophy while ensuring they can reach the individuals who need them most. By bridging the gap between digital resources and professional care, psychiatrists can play a key role in shaping the future of mental health support.
One of the key factors in running a successful psychiatry practice is ensuring that patients have seamless access to care without financial or administrative barriers. Mental health treatment often requires ongoing sessions, making it essential for both patients and providers to navigate insurance coverage effectively. Insurance Eligibility Verification is a crucial step in this process, as it helps determine what services are covered under a patient’s plan before treatment begins. By proactively addressing potential coverage issues, psychiatrists can prevent unexpected billing challenges, allowing patients to focus on their mental well-being rather than financial concerns.
In this innovative move, Dundee City Council is one of the first authorities to provide this mental health & wellbeing support to staff and pupils authority-wide. Audrey May, Chief Education Officer for Dundee City Council, says;
“We are delighted that all our schools across Dundee will have the benefit of the Treehouse resource. As we move through the recovery phase of the pandemic, this tool will support our teachers and pupils to help develop resilience, cope with change and manage stress and anxiety. It will support staff to plan and deliver learning on a key area of the curriculum – mental and emotional wellbeing.”
Audrey continued; “Our strong partnership working with Tree of Knowledge has developed over many years and they bring laughter and fun to the learning environment. We look forward to continuing our work together and learning about the impact Treehouse has on supporting the mental and emotional wellbeing of our pupils and staff.”
Innovative tools like Treehouse are transforming the approach to mental health and emotional wellbeing in schools, but for those seeking a more personalized and targeted program to enhance cognitive and emotional growth, Brain Balance offers a unique solution.
This program is designed to address the underlying developmental challenges that can impact focus, learning, and emotional regulation.
Brain Balance combines interactive exercises, sensory activities, and structured routines to help individuals build stronger neural connections. For further insights into the science behind programs like Brain Balance, the detailed research at https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10478577/ sheds light on how such interventions can create lasting improvements in brain function.
Cat Lee, PT Guidance at St John’s RC High School, says; “We originally used Treehouse to re-engage with our pupils during our second lock down. The tool enabled us to support and monitor our young people’s emotional and mental health & wellbeing. We now deliver the programme as part of our PSE curriculum from S1 to S6. The videos are engaging, the follow-up activities appropriate and thought provoking and require no preparation from teachers. We use them as part of a lesson, either as a class exercise using a screen, or individually with pupils using laptops or their phones. We would highly recommend it to other schools.”
Dougie Clark, Director at Tree of Knowledge, says; “We’re delighted to see Dundee City Council acknowledging the importance of investing in the health & wellbeing of their staff and pupils at this time. Treehouse is in 350 schools, and over half of authorities across Scotland, as well as schools in England, Ireland and as far afield as the USA. We’ve been delighted with the response to the platform, and it’s great to see over 50,000 pupils using the platform regularly to support their mental health & wellbeing.”
Treehouse provides over 100 age-appropriate modules covering pre-school right up to S6, as well as staff modules. Starting at just £499 for entire school access, contact [email protected] to find out more and book a demo, or visit the website to view and purchase.
